Rondout schools give A+ to gardens

STONE RIDGE — In the Rondout Valley School District, you'll find a vegetable garden at each of the five schools — where students, teachers and parents pitch in to sow the seeds and reap the harvest.

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By Pauline Liu

recordonline.com

By Pauline Liu

Posted Sep. 14, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Pauline Liu
Posted Sep. 14, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

STONE RIDGE — In the Rondout Valley School District, you'll find a vegetable garden at each of the five schools — where students, teachers and parents pitch in to sow the seeds and reap the harvest.

On Thursday, Marbletown Elementary mom Nicci Nashban Cagan was busily harvesting kale from the school garden, but there were also raspberries and basil to pick.

In this community, which has embraced the farm-to-table local food movement, parents say it's no surprise that kids like Amelia Roosa Dunphy, 7, like their vegetables — especially if they're fresh from the garden.

"I feel like we're doing good things for the Earth by planting, and we're also helping ourselves," said Amelia, a second-grader.

Parents, including Amelia's dad, Erick Roosa, were pleased to learn that the school district expects to expand its garden program soon.

"It's great that there'll be a higher percentage of organic and homegrown food in the cafeteria, and it'll be food for healthy minds," said Roosa, of Stone Ridge.

What the parents like to refer to as their "garden-to-cafeteria program" at Rondout Valley, is about to get a shot in the-arm.

Superintendent Rosario Agostaro says the district has applied for a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture "to increasingly integrate local produce throughout our district menus" while teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition.

He explained that the district would also eventually like to offer students a series of courses in agriculture.

The grant would expand the seven-year-old program, which the district has developed in partnership with three community-based agricultural groups including the Rondout Valley Growers Association.

Until now, the district has been able to occasionally supplement menus with produce from its gardens.

What's happening in Rondout Valley may be ripe for other districts, as well. Robert Graves Elementary School in the Kingston School District now has a vegetable garden which was transplanted from the Anna Devine School after it was closed down in June.

Parents, teachers and members of the Bruderhof Community helped to move the garden, which is being used educate kids about planting and nutrition, said Kate Heidecker, spokeswoman for the district.

As for Rondout Valley, there's always a need for more hands to help with the gardens, which are thriving.

"If you are passionate about children, food, or if you just like to eat," said Cagan, "We hope you will join us as we connect the cafteria to the classroom — and the classroom to the community — and to our children's growing support system."